Our History
Our History The Methodist "excitement" came to Texas on the leading edge of the American westward settlements, and the inception of the First United Methodist Church of Bryan, Texas came at the close of that remarkable era. In 1840, the Methodist General Conference created the Texas Conference which included most of the Republic of Texas. In 1845 the Methodist Church divided, with the country, over the issues of slavery and state's rights. The Texas Conference associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church-South.On the eve of the tragic War Between the States in 1854, Robert Alexander helped found the Alexander Church at the Tabor community near the then Brazos County seat of Boonville. A railroad, the founding of Bryan, and the beginnings of the First United Methodist Church of Bryan were imminent.
Founding FUMC Bryan The iron rail came to Texas in the 1850s and began the process of revolutionizing the state's economy and way of life, which coincidentally contributed significantly to the expansion of Methodism in Brazos County. In 1859, anticipating the arrival of the railroad, William Joel Bryan surveyed a town site on his family's land near Boonville and the following year, 1860, dedicated a site for the construction of a Methodist Church on that land. The Civil War halted construction of both the railroad and the Methodist church in Bryan, despite the presence of a small Methodist community or "class" being led by Rev. Byron Carden, a circuit rider based in Boonville. In 1866 the county seat of Brazos County was moved from Boonville to the Bryan town site, in anticipation of the completion of the railroad tracks to Bryan by 1867. The rich agricultural lands of the Brazos bottom, the war-time accumulation of cattle and produce, and an unusually active and progressive business community precipitated rapid growth and development in the Bryan community. It became a bawdy, rough, often violent, and sometimes lawless frontier town which soon boasted some thirty business establishments and an equal number of saloons. It was fertile territory for the Methodist mission. Circuit riders from Rutersville, Boonville, and other communities began preaching with some regularity in 1867. Circuit riders preached in homes, in the open, or on occasion, in a theatrical hall over one of the local saloons, as best met the situation. On March 22, 1868 trustees of the Methodist congregation received a deed to the site (as originally designated by William Joel Bryan) of the present First United Methodist Church of Bryan, then called the Methodist Episcopal Church, South of Bryan. This effectually established the existence of a permanent Methodist congregation in the city. Construction of a building began soon thereafter and in September 1869 at a cost of approximately $500, the Methodist congregation occupied their church. The grounds have been in continual use since 1868 and the original building remained in use until replaced in 1902. Rev. H. G. Horton was the first pastor. When the Texas Agriculture and Mechanical College opened its doors in October 1876 to its first students, the community and the Methodist church grew. That growth was often painful and always difficult, as was life in this frontier and railroad community that was still dependent on cotton, cattle, and farming. During the closing decades of the 19th century, Methodism and what would become the First United Methodist Church of Bryan changed from its frontier, pioneering, aggressive, and somewhat charismatic character to become a part of the established order. Sixteen different pastors
served the little church from 1868 to 1900. Little has been preserved about them as individuals, as church leaders, or even as to their precise dates of service in Bryan. The first Ladies Aid Society, a prototype of the Women's Society of Christian Service (1941-1968) and its sequel United Methodist Women was organized in 1883. There was a three-fold increase in the number of members from the estimated 400 attending 1900 to about 1,200 in 1950. The church that had divided during the antebellum era reunited during World War II.
The Church's Buildings Through Time The first church building was completed in September 1869 for less than $500 on land given in 1861 by the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. The first pastor was Rev. H. G. Horton who was assigned to Bryan in November 1868. Before the church was built, services were held by circuit riders who preached in theatrical halls over saloons. For the 100th anniversary of the church, Will K. Gibbs prepared a brief history entitled "A Century of Growth of Our Church Building Program." According to Gibbs, Rev. R. L. Shettles, who had come to serve the church in 1899, brought a renowned Methodist evangelist Rev. George Stuart to Bryan for a two-week revival that triggered the excitement, enthusiasm, and financing that led to the construction of a much needed new church. The original frame building was replaced in 1902 by a brick building, built on the "Akron Plan" which became very popular in the early decades of the century. Unfortunately the structure had a very short life as it burned to the ground on March 19, 1906. The blaze began during a Wednesday night service in which the pastor, Rev. I. F. Betts, succeeded in evacuating everyone without injury. The following week Rev. Betts conducted revival services in the nearby Baptist church.
The disaster seemed to strengthen the congregation's resolve and determination. By 1908, the church was rebuilt on the same foundation and from the same plans as the 1902 building. Gibbs describes it as a "beautiful church. The two main entrances were on Houston Street. Over each entrance was a spire, the one over the south entrance was taller and it hung the bell." The church was cooled with six ceiling fans to help draw air through the opened windows. Steam radiators warmed the building during the winter.The church grew significantly up through the 1920s and there was a demand for more social and classroom space. The present sanctuary was completed in 1951 and the Education Building was added in 1954. Taken from "A Brief History of The First United Methodist Church Bryan, Texas: 1868-2000" by Henry C. Dethloff
Founding FUMC Bryan The iron rail came to Texas in the 1850s and began the process of revolutionizing the state's economy and way of life, which coincidentally contributed significantly to the expansion of Methodism in Brazos County. In 1859, anticipating the arrival of the railroad, William Joel Bryan surveyed a town site on his family's land near Boonville and the following year, 1860, dedicated a site for the construction of a Methodist Church on that land. The Civil War halted construction of both the railroad and the Methodist church in Bryan, despite the presence of a small Methodist community or "class" being led by Rev. Byron Carden, a circuit rider based in Boonville. In 1866 the county seat of Brazos County was moved from Boonville to the Bryan town site, in anticipation of the completion of the railroad tracks to Bryan by 1867. The rich agricultural lands of the Brazos bottom, the war-time accumulation of cattle and produce, and an unusually active and progressive business community precipitated rapid growth and development in the Bryan community. It became a bawdy, rough, often violent, and sometimes lawless frontier town which soon boasted some thirty business establishments and an equal number of saloons. It was fertile territory for the Methodist mission. Circuit riders from Rutersville, Boonville, and other communities began preaching with some regularity in 1867. Circuit riders preached in homes, in the open, or on occasion, in a theatrical hall over one of the local saloons, as best met the situation. On March 22, 1868 trustees of the Methodist congregation received a deed to the site (as originally designated by William Joel Bryan) of the present First United Methodist Church of Bryan, then called the Methodist Episcopal Church, South of Bryan. This effectually established the existence of a permanent Methodist congregation in the city. Construction of a building began soon thereafter and in September 1869 at a cost of approximately $500, the Methodist congregation occupied their church. The grounds have been in continual use since 1868 and the original building remained in use until replaced in 1902. Rev. H. G. Horton was the first pastor. When the Texas Agriculture and Mechanical College opened its doors in October 1876 to its first students, the community and the Methodist church grew. That growth was often painful and always difficult, as was life in this frontier and railroad community that was still dependent on cotton, cattle, and farming. During the closing decades of the 19th century, Methodism and what would become the First United Methodist Church of Bryan changed from its frontier, pioneering, aggressive, and somewhat charismatic character to become a part of the established order. Sixteen different pastors
served the little church from 1868 to 1900. Little has been preserved about them as individuals, as church leaders, or even as to their precise dates of service in Bryan. The first Ladies Aid Society, a prototype of the Women's Society of Christian Service (1941-1968) and its sequel United Methodist Women was organized in 1883. There was a three-fold increase in the number of members from the estimated 400 attending 1900 to about 1,200 in 1950. The church that had divided during the antebellum era reunited during World War II.
The Church's Buildings Through Time The first church building was completed in September 1869 for less than $500 on land given in 1861 by the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. The first pastor was Rev. H. G. Horton who was assigned to Bryan in November 1868. Before the church was built, services were held by circuit riders who preached in theatrical halls over saloons. For the 100th anniversary of the church, Will K. Gibbs prepared a brief history entitled "A Century of Growth of Our Church Building Program." According to Gibbs, Rev. R. L. Shettles, who had come to serve the church in 1899, brought a renowned Methodist evangelist Rev. George Stuart to Bryan for a two-week revival that triggered the excitement, enthusiasm, and financing that led to the construction of a much needed new church. The original frame building was replaced in 1902 by a brick building, built on the "Akron Plan" which became very popular in the early decades of the century. Unfortunately the structure had a very short life as it burned to the ground on March 19, 1906. The blaze began during a Wednesday night service in which the pastor, Rev. I. F. Betts, succeeded in evacuating everyone without injury. The following week Rev. Betts conducted revival services in the nearby Baptist church.
The disaster seemed to strengthen the congregation's resolve and determination. By 1908, the church was rebuilt on the same foundation and from the same plans as the 1902 building. Gibbs describes it as a "beautiful church. The two main entrances were on Houston Street. Over each entrance was a spire, the one over the south entrance was taller and it hung the bell." The church was cooled with six ceiling fans to help draw air through the opened windows. Steam radiators warmed the building during the winter.The church grew significantly up through the 1920s and there was a demand for more social and classroom space. The present sanctuary was completed in 1951 and the Education Building was added in 1954. Taken from "A Brief History of The First United Methodist Church Bryan, Texas: 1868-2000" by Henry C. Dethloff
